KEIICHI MIURA

The radiant gleam of Nelchael’s statue, the 9th Overseer, once again painted my vision with its golden hue as I reentered the 48th and final realm within Compound 009.

Wallace had apprised me of a hidden secret nestled here, one that could reveal more about Lune. The spherical artefact containing the Overseer’s unfinished research on Lune was expected to respond to it. However, my prior encounter with Chandler abruptly curtailed my exploration in this realm, leaving me with no time to delve further. But this time, circumstances diverged.

I traversed the near-deserted realm, tracing the perimeter of the lake in search of any irregularities. Suddenly, a peculiar allure emanated from a specific area, casting a shroud of darkness and dimness distinct from the rest of the landscape.

It was as though this spot was beckoning me. Simultaneously, the spherical artefact nestled within my pocket began to emit a faint glow. While extracting it, I observed its behaviour mirroring the pull of that very area.

Drawing closer, a pedestal unveiled itself, sculpted from glass, its luminosity in sync with the glowing artifact. Upon careful examination, I resolved to touch it, a sensation of cold enveloping me.

Concurrently, a voice resonated within my mind:

[Authorization Granted: Level: Herald]

As the echo faded, the glass pedestal underwent a transmutation, yielding a spherical recess, vacant and awaiting Instinctively, I deduced that the artefact was meant to occupy this niche.

Without delay, I inserted the luminous artefact, its contours matching the cavity seamlessly, as if it were returning to its original abode. A ripple surged through the surroundings as the verdant grass vanished, exposing a familiar circular stone platform.

"This... A Grand Elevator?" I startled myself with this conjecture, perplexed by the presence of an elevator in the deepest layer. After all, this realm marked the end of Limbo. The idea of an elevator’s existence here confused me.

To verify my hypothesis, I stepped onto the elevator, my Venturer Seal illuminating as the magical descent initiated. An eerie mist enveloped me, the elevator’s rumble forming the sole backdrop. After a while, a faint voice echoed within my thoughts.

[You have reached the 49th realm: Citadel of the Undying]

When I heard that, everything suddenly clicked into place. There was a hidden realm beneath this one, only accessible when certain conditions were met.

Wallace’s clue makes sense now. He knew about this secret because his mentor Nebeus, the caretaker, had information about all the hidden things in Limbo, including this secret realm.

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As the fog disappeared and the noise of the elevator faded, I could finally see where I was. It was like I was in the middle of a town square, surrounded by buildings and people. A soft green light enveloped everything, making it all look strange and mystical.

The source of this otherworldly illumination seemed to be a dark green crescent moon hanging in the sky.

There weren’t any stars in the sky, just the peculiar moon lighting up the place. Due to this illumination, I could see the settlements around me. Some were white, and others were black. Tall lamps with blue flames burning inside them occupied the streets. It seemed like these flames would never go out.

The people in the area noticed my descent and rushed towards me, like they were going to a show. They all had face masks on, and their skin was really pale. Some of them even had grievous wounds all over their bodies, but there was no trace of blood. I witnessed that some people had parts of their heads missing, and yet they were walking around like nothing was wrong.

I decided to escape from them, but I couldn’t. It felt like I was weak, like back on Earth. I tried to use my sol-weaving powers, but it didn’t work. It was as if there was no oxygen in the atmosphere.

"This can’t be happening!" I said it out loud.

But then a thought popped into my head, connecting everything together.

"Instead of sol, this place is ruled by lune instead! " I realised.

However, this seemed confusing at first, as Lune had supposedly disappeared. Yet it struck me that the realms within Limbo were cut off from the outside world. It could be possible to artificially create such an environment.

Maybe by simulating a large number of deaths in a very short span of time, we could generate an immense amount of lune that could overpower the sol energy in the atmosphere, consume it and take over.

"I cannot feel my heart beating!" I exclaimed as I realised a fundamental shift had occurred within my body. I also appeared to have lost my sense of smell.

At that moment, all the residents had gathered around me, and I couldn’t do anything to resist.

"Mom… Is that a human?" A little child with an eye mask asked his mother.

His mother didn’t answer immediately, seemingly astonished by the sight.

Suddenly, two towering figures emerged, parting the crowd. They looked like knights, dressed in black armour and holding axes that gleamed in the moonlight.

"Come with us," one of them commanded in a metallic tone.

I had no other option but to comply. I walked behind the two knights along the streets, observing everything around me.

After a considerable span of time, my attention was drawn to a majestic castle. Its towering spires and intricate architecture exuded an air of grandeur. Guided by the knights, I entered the castle’s imposing entrance. The interior was a labyrinth of corridors, each guarded by more of these enigmatic knights. The walls were adorned with banners and intricate murals depicting scenes from a history I couldn’t fathom.

Walking through these passageways, my anticipation grew. Finally, I found myself at the end of a particularly long hallway. Here, an awe-inspiring sight awaited me—a colossal throne adorned with intricate carvings, seeming to stretch into the heavens. The very presence of it demanded reverence.

As I cautiously approached the throne, a presence materialised before me. Suspended in the air, this figure exuded a sense of tranquility.His countenance radiated a profound calmness, setting him apart from everything else. His aura had an uncanny quality, akin to the moon’s luminescence in this realm. His dark blue hair was partially concealed beneath a half-hat, lending an air of mystery.

His appearance was youthful, suggesting a man in the bloom of his twenties. He was clad in a black tunic adorned with intricate and mesmerising patterns that seemed to come alive under the dim light. As our eyes met, a warm smile formed on his lips.

"Greetings to you, esteemed Herald. You have ventured into the Citadel of the Undying," he announced, his voice carrying both authority and an undercurrent of something deeper. "I am the sovereign of this realm, known as Ketu."